Antoine Semenyo has spoken about the recent transfer speculation linking him to several clubs, including Manchester United. This comes after Manchester United opted to sign Bryan Mbeumo for an initial fee of £65 million this summer. Semenyo, 25, gained attention from various Premier League teams following his outstanding performances for Bournemouth last season.
Reports indicate that Manchester United’s manager, Ruben Amorim, held a dinner meeting with Semenyo in London at the end of the previous campaign to evaluate his character. Additionally, club officials Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox reportedly engaged in talks with Bournemouth, but no agreement was reached. While Bournemouth maintained their stance this summer, the January transfer window could present new opportunities as clubs continue to monitor Semenyo’s development on the south coast.
In a significant move, Semenyo committed to Bournemouth by signing a long-term contract that extends until the summer of 2030. According to reports from talkSPORT, Bournemouth values their star player at approximately £75 million. Despite the ongoing speculation, Semenyo emphasized that transfer discussions do not occupy his mind.
“I don’t think about it too much,” Semenyo told Sky Sports ahead of Bournemouth’s match against Manchester City. “I try to stay present as much as I can. You see the news all the time, I see it as well; I’m not oblivious, but I try to keep focused. I’m enjoying my football here. If I’m not scoring goals, all of that goes away. I try to stay present, do the best I can for the team, score goals, and whatever happens in the future happens.”
This past summer saw several players, including Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, and Illia Zabarnyi, leave Bournemouth, leading to speculation about Semenyo following suit. He acknowledged the interest from other clubs but expressed confidence in Bournemouth’s direction for the season.
“When they [his former teammates] all left in the summer, there was a lot of interest and back and forth with the club,” Semenyo noted. “But I knew in my head that the manager’s got something up his sleeve this year. How we finished off the season last year was so good, and we could continue, especially with the players we’ve bought in as well.”
Bournemouth has made an impressive start to the current Premier League campaign, winning five of their nine matches and currently sitting second in the table. A victory against Manchester City could narrow the gap to just four points behind title contenders Arsenal.
As Semenyo continues to shine at Bournemouth, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how his situation develops in the coming months.
